The relationship between water loss, mechanical stress, and molecular structure of human stratum corneum ex vivo

• Published in: Journal of biophotonics 2015-03, Vol.8 (3), p.217-225
• Main Authors: Vyumvuhore, Raoul, Tfayli, Ali, Biniek, Krysta, Duplan, Hélène, Delalleau, Alexandre, Manfait, Michel, Dauskardt, Reinhold, Baillet-Guffroy, Arlette
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Binding; Chains; Curvature; Drying; Epidermis - metabolism; Female; Humans; Hydration; Keratins; Lipid Metabolism; mechanical stress; Middle Aged; Molecular structure; Proteins - metabolism; Raman spectroscopy; skin hydration; stratum corneum; Stress, Mechanical; Stresses; Water - metabolism; Water loss; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1864-063X; 1864-0648
• DOI: 10.1002/jbio.201300169

Proper hydration of the stratum corneum (SC) is important for maintaining skin's vital functions. Water loss causes development of drying stresses, which can be perceived as ‘tightness’, and plays an important role in dry skin damage processes. However, molecular structure modifications arising from water loss and the subsequent development of stress has not been established. We investigated the drying stress mechanism by studying, ex vivo, the behaviors of the SC components during water desorption from initially fully hydrated samples using Raman spectroscopy. Simultaneously, we measure the SC mechanical stress with a substrate curvature instrument. Very good correlations of water loss to the mechanical stress of the stratum corneum were obtained, and the latter was found to depend mainly on the unbound water fraction. In addition to that, the water loss is accompanied with an increase of lipids matrix compactness characterized by lower chain freedom, while protein structure showed an increase in amount of α‐helices, a decline in α‐sheets, and an increase in folding in the tertiary structure of keratin. The drying process of SC involves a complex interplay of water binding, molecular modifications, and mechanical stress. This article provides a better understanding of the molecular mechanism associated to SC mechanics. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim) The drying process of Stratum Corneum involves a complex interplay of water binding, molecular modifications, and mechanical stress. This work provides a better insight of the molecular mechanism associated to Stratum Corneum drying mechanics.